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On the scene : news for and about employees of the N.C. Deparment of Public Safety

On the scene : news for and about employees of the N.C. Deparment of Public Safety

Scene M A R C H 2 0 1 4
Snow
angels . . . page 3
On The Scene March 2014 Page 2
In his cruiser, State
Capitol Police Officer
Ronald McCoy
stands watch outside
the Governor’s
Mansion during the
February snow and
ice storm. Photo
courtesy of State
Capitol Police.
Index
What’s inside?
The Cover Story: Snow angels.................3
Litter Free NC.............................................................................8
National Guard heritage......................................................10
Another dramatic HART rescue.....................................11
Agents converge for fallen officer........................12
First trained......................................................13
Promotions............................................................14
Retirements, passing...............................................15
On The Scene March 2014
Adversity seems to bring out the best in most people, and the Feb.
12 snow storm brought trouble aplenty but also plentiful stories
about good things people did for each other and their commitment
to their jobs.
Here are employee reports submitted in response to On The
Scene’s call for their deeds or those of co-workers ensuring public
safety was preserved or helping a friend, neighbor or stranger who
had no other assistance available.
On Feb. 12, State Capitol Police Officer Thomas
Rochford decided to take a different route home.
The change possibly saved a woman’s life.
The woman’s husband had been called to
work, which left their daughter alone at home.
The woman had no way to get home except to
walk — from her job on Wade Avenue to McGee’s
Crossroads, some 25 or so miles away. She was
dressed in office attire, not snow wear.
Rochford,s route took him through the inter-section
of Timber Drive and NC Highway 50 in
Garner. That’s where he saw the woman, who had
already walked about 11 miles.
Rochford at first drove past her, but he
stopped, backed up and asked if she wanted a ride.
She hesitated. Still in his police uniform, Rochford
convinced her it was safe, and the woman ac-cepted
the ride.
Rochford had stopped to offer help to someone
he did not know, whose circumstances he did not
know. He drove numerous miles out of his way to
help a stranger in need.
“She had to get home to her daughter,” he said. *
Trooper Royce Barham got a YouTube shout-out from business
Stories from the snow
Tales of valor, heart and humor
consultant Vincent K. Harris, who said Barham took time to dig him
out of the snow when he was stuck in Triple Lakes, even though
Barham was with his family.
“Your kindness is totally appreciated,” Harris said. “Below you
will find a video I created to express my gratitude.” *
A past automobile accident had given Gloria O’Neal, program
supervisor at Central Prison, good reason to be extra concerned
while attempting to drive home during the snowstorm. She said it
helped her to know that co-worker Brandy Ballard, personnel tech-nician
I, was following her as they drove on Rock Quarry Road east
of Raleigh.
“During this time the traffic, snow and sleet were heavy,” O’Neal
said. “Brandy was checking on me several times while on the road
for four hours waiting to move.”
At one point, Brandy made her way to O’Neal’s car, slipping and
almost falling, and began cleaning the back window of O’Neal’s car.
“She risked her safety while helping me,” O’Neal said. *
Pauline Powell, educational development aide at Dillon Youth
Development Center in Butner, described her journey home to
Louisburg on Feb. 12 as an 11-hour faith journey.
She left Dillon at 1 p.m. for a 49-mile trip home over hilly rural
roads and an interstate highway, almost constantly praying. Powell
described being stuck a few times, but always getting going again
due to the help of people who she called “angels God sent” to her aid.
She saw numerous sliding, cars that needed to be towed, some
of them damaged, and jack-knifed trucks. She also saw numerous
other “angels” helping people, too.
“Men were sent to deliver me from the hindrances of my jour-ney,”
she said. “A special thank you to them for being out on the
road in spite of inclement weather. No money changed hands.” *
State Capitol Police
Officer Thomas Rochford
See Angels on page 4
Page 3
On The Scene March 2014
John Del Greco, a systems accountant,
saw that a young woman’s car was get-ting
too little traction to move and it was
blocking Del Greco’s car and others in an
intersection.
“She asked me to go around her, [but]
I told her I will try to push her while she
tried to move slowly,” Del Greco said. “The
traffic behind me stayed patient. Once I
got her going she kept waving at me until I
turned into my development.” *
Randy Nicoll, a food service officer at
Brown Creek Correctional Institution, made
the 100-mile round trip commute each day
in his two-wheel drive pickup truck. He
said the trip to or from work normally takes
an hour.
“The trip to work the first day was two
hours and back to home was four hours,” he
said. *
By Pamela Walker, Communications Director
As a colleague and I made our way home during North
Carolina’s snowstorm of the decade, we had an encoun-ter
with a troubled young man that I will never forget.
After working 15-plus hours at the State Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) during North Carolina’s Feb.
13th snowstorm, Law Enforcement Commissioner Greg
Baker and I set out for what was expected to be a slow
trek home.
We had been part of the team of hundreds of state
employees from public safety, transportation, National
Guard, wildlife resources, first responders and others
managing the response to the State of Emergency. The
EOC was the hub for deploying state troopers to assist
accident victims; responding to requests for Humvees to
transport emergency personnel to hospitals or residents
to shelters; strategizing with transportation officials about
plowing roadways through a constantly changing weather
situation; and so much more.
It was time for some of us to go home and the next
shift to take over. Commissioner Baker and I set out in a
four-wheel drive vehicle to navigate the slick roads. We
were to meet my husband at a predetermined location.
We had been on the road about 10 minutes, mak-ing
our way on I-440 (Raleigh’s Beltline), when Baker
exclaimed, “Did you see that guy?!” He stopped the ve-hicle
on the deserted Beltline and started backing up. A
man was laying on the edge of the highway in the snow.
As a law enforcement professional, Baker was very
cautious and informed me that we would both stay in the
car. He put the window down to get a better sense of the
situation. We pulled alongside the man not knowing if he
had been hit by a car or was in some kind of distress.
Baker said, “Sir, do you need some help?”
The young man (whom I will call “Joe”) sat up par-tially
in the snow, laughed and then mumbled some-thing.
Then he tried to stand up and steady himself,
swaying the whole time and repeatedly falling in the wet
snow. The man was soaking wet and said, “I’m so cold,”
and in an obvious and uncontrollable state of impair-ment,
he attempted to reach the side of our car.
Fearing that the man would stumble into the road-
George Dudley, a specialist in
the Communications Office, needed
more than four hours to make a 20-
minute drive from the Joint Force
Headquarters/Emergency Operations
Center in Raleigh to his home near
Wake Forest.
The trip would have taken less time
had Dudley not stopped three times
to use his pickup truck to help people
get their cars moving. The day before,
he had the truck loaded with firewood
and had put a chain in the back, just in
case either was needed. The firewood
gave his two-wheel drive truck trac-tion,
and the chain gave him a tool to
help people.
During one stop on Blue Ridge
Road, an N.C. National Guard soldier
helped Dudley with a stuck motorist.
The soldier was gladly helping other
people, too.
Later, on Capital Boulevard, Dudley
saw a Wake County sheriff’s deputy try-ing
unsuccessfully to help a motorist climb
an icy hill. Dudley pulled the motorist to the
top of the hill, while the deputy kept other
traffic at a safe distance. *
Correctional Officer Phillip Hendricks
of Piedmont Correctional Institution used
his tractor to clear the snow out of many of
his neighbors’ driveways without taking a
dime. *
Several reports told of employees’ dedica-tion
to their jobs, recognizing the impor-tance
of keeping prisons secure with suf-ficient
staff.
Perhaps Thomas McCall of Foothills
Correctional Institution became the “poster
child” for job dedication, when he decided
that he could get to work by riding his
lawn mower to make the 9-mile trip from
Valdese to Morganton.
After two hours and a fuel refill stop,
McCall arrived safely. *
Angels from page 3
Down and out,
dangerous, too
Correctional Officer Thomas McCall making
news as he makes his way to work at Foothills
Correctional Institution. (Courtesy photo)
See Angels on page 5
See Down on page 5
Page 4
On The Scene March 2014
On Feb. 13, Albemarle
Correctional Institution’s
Officer Jeff Bowers also knew
he was needed at work, espe-cially
aware that a staff short-age
was possible that day.
But he could not get his truck
out of his driveway. The road
conditions were very bad,
and he did not call anyone to
pick him up for fear of put-ting
them in jeopardy.
Bowers left his home on
foot at approximately 4:15
that morning. He walked more than 6 miles
to get to work, arriving nearly 2-and-a-half
hours later.
At Albemarle CI, Bowers was hailed as
“a shining example of dedication, teamwork
and genuine concern for the safety of citi-zens,
staff and facility.” *
Among those at Marion
Correctional Institution who
were prepared for the storm
were three nurses who went
above and beyond the call of duty
to make sure the facility had a
medical presence throughout this
ordeal.
They were:
Sonya Brown, third shift
LPN, who worked by herself Feb.
12-13, dispensing medications to inmates in
regular population and in segregation, as
well as performing normal shift routine job
assignments until relief arrived. First shift
nurses were unable to report for work, so
Brown volunteered to stay through first
shift to assist with coverage. She worked
approximately 18 hours.
Josephine Thompson, third shift RN,
helped out on second shift, often doubling
back from third with little sleep during
February. On Feb. 12, during the winter
storm, Thompson drove and picked up one
of the third shift nurses so the Institution
would have nursing coverage. She followed
that up by coming in early on first shift the
next day and working through second shift,
because first shift nurses were unable to re-port
for duty.
Richard Kidd, second shift lead nurse,
assisted with picking up and taking home
staff on Feb. 12 during inclement weather
to ensure second shift was adequately cov-ered.
He assisted with coverage until the
third shift nurse could get in and made ar-rangements
for a ride home with custody
staff on Feb. 13. Later that day, calling in to
check on staffing, he found that first shift
staff were unable to report for work. Kidd
went in early to assist with coverage, ex-tending
his shift to organize and prioritize
duties within the Medical Department.
It was noted that, “while this latest
round of inclement weather found many
unprepared, nurses Brown, Thompson and
Kidd demonstrated a level of professional-ism,
dedication, and preparedness that sets
them apart from the rest.” *
Lillie Balance, program supervisor,
Pasquotank Correctional Institution in
Elizabeth City, said, “We here at Pasquotank
CI all pulled together as a team to help each
other.”
Several staff members who live close to
the prison offered to allow others who were
further out to stay in their homes so they
way, I told him to get on the rail because he would be
warmer over there. The young man immediately became
belligerent and he began screaming obscenities. I dialed
star (*) HP, and described the situation to the Highway
Patrol Communication Center operator.
Baker finally convinced him to lean on the rail and
that is when Joe sat and sobbed. A minute later, Col. Bill
Grey of the Highway Patrol arrived. Col. Grey and Baker
then approached the young man to determine if he was
injured in any manner and to attempt to determine how
he arrived at that location.
A few moments later, Raleigh police arrived on the
scene to assist. Joe’s driver’s license and vehicle infor-mation
was checked, and it was immediately determined
that a car parked about 50 yards down the roadway was
in fact registered to him.
Joe was secured in the patrol vehicle and the focus
turned to his vehicle where it was discovered that anoth-er
male was and had been sitting, observing everything
that had occurred. This is the very reason that good
Samaritans should always approach these situations
with caution and never alone.
The man, sitting in the passenger seat, was also ob-viously
impaired and told the officers that an unidentified
woman had been driving. No woman was in sight, and
after a thorough search, no woman was found. It is likely
that the story was made up in an effort to deflect any
criminal charges.
It was also determined that Joe’s car was out of
gas, likely divine intervention. The results could have
been catastrophic had he continued driving in his state
of impairment. A trooper transported Joe to jail where
he faced a host of charges and a $12,000 bond. I later
learned that he had three prior DWI convictions.
Although Joe is in serious trouble, he is alive and
has one more opportunity to re-chart his course in life.
I wonder if he will. I wonder if he will recognize what the
rest of us did that night. I wonder if he will recognize how
fortunate he was that on a blistering cold and snowy
night, he was rescued from a certain tragic end by peo-ple
who care, even when the people they help don’t.
Joe may not be feeling so lucky today, but he should
be thankful for fate bringing the commissioner of Law
Enforcement and the commander of the Highway Patrol
to his aid. I hope that is a sobering call heard loud and
clear and that Joe gets some help before he hurts him-self
or someone else. *
Angels from page 4 Angels from page 4
Correctional
Officer
Jeff Bowers
Nurses
Richard Kidd,
above, and,
right, Sonya
Brown and
Josephine
Thompson.
See Angels on page 6
Page 5
On The Scene March 2014
could get to work. Balance’s husband gave
several staff members door-to-door rides to
and from work.
“We have continued this kind of help
with each passing storm,” she said. “As we
are known as the ‘Tank,’ I think we have
pulled together as a whole like the tracks
that make a tank travel as a whole not as a
lost machine.” *
During the snow and ice storm which
occurred Feb. 12-14, Catawba Correctional
Center had 100 percent of essential staff
and management report for duty. The at-tendance
covered all four custody rotations
and correctional officers assigned to 8-hour
Monday-Friday positions.
Correctional staff made arrangements
in advance of the storm to position their
vehicles where they would have access to
main roadways or made arrangements with
other employees who had four-wheel drive
vehicles. The majority of correctional staff
reside in surrounding counties, and some
travel 35-40 miles each way. Employees
encountered roads with snow and ice accu-mulations
ranging 8 to 15 inches.
Correctional staff reported early for
line-up to be assigned a post, in order to
allow the preceding shift extra time to get
home. Officers brought extra uniforms,
sleeping bags and other essentials if they
were needed to remain at the facility.
It was said that, “Catawba CC is truly
blessed to have a group of employees that
are this dedicated to their job responsibili-ties
and each other.” *
Numerous staff members at Caledonia
Correctional Institution who stayed over-night
to help with the facility operations on
Feb. 12 due to inclement weather were com-mended
for their hard work, support and
dedication:
In Operations, Capt. Daryl Williams
and Officers Hidegarde Bobbitt,
Linwood Harrell, Frogan Hedgepeth,
Regina Powell, Heather Tuck and
BarbaraWhitaker.
In Unit 2, Officers Charles Barfield and
Maurice Dickens.
In Unit 3, Officers Courtney Alston,
Kathleen Battle and Peter Normand.
In Unit 4, Unit Manager Donald Greene,
Assistant Unit Manager James Durham
and Officers Patricia Arrington, David
Hartsfield, Christopher Kirton and
Davina Sharpe.
In Maintenance, Thomas Thomas, Mark
Lucy and Steve Moore.
In Medical, Aundrea Alston.
In Transportation, Johnny Arrington,
Kevin Craft and Craig Pleasant. *
Among the many critical functions
of a prison is its warehouse, which Sgt
Christopher Nichols oversees at Alexander
Correctional Institution. The warehouse
provides all of the cleaning supplies and
clothes for the inmates five days a week for
a population that amounts to a small city.
Icy roads the morning after the snow-storm
prevented several warehouse em-ployees
from being able to get to work.
However, Nichols was determined to make
it to work, and he drove more than 60 miles
picking up two other employees on his way
to Alexander.
Richard Wilson, Alexancer CI canteen
supervisor, said Sgt Nichols is “a very de-termined
and helpful person who helps
his employees and backs them while do-ing
their work … and deserves recognition
for his efforts. …He may not have driven a
lawn mower to work, but his efforts were
just as great. We all appreciate him for the
boss that he is.” *
Another critical daily function at a prison
is food. A snow storm doesn’t stop the need
for meals three times a day.
Stephen W. Smith, correctional
food service manager III at Piedmont
Correctional Institution, is responsible for
3,000 meals per day.
“It was critical for all Food Service staff
to be on post to ensure that all inmates
were served their meals,” he said. “Many of
our Food Staff live a good distance from our
unit.”
Smith used his four-wheel drive vehicle
to go “beyond what most would have done”
and picked up all employees who were to be
on post during the snow.
“Mr. Smith is a very dedicated manager,
and I am not only blessed but honored to
be a part of his well organized Food Service
team,” said Frank Pleasants, a food service
officer.
Angels from page 5
Road conditions on I-40 near Catawba
Correctional Center were treacherous, yet
the facility had 100 percent of staff report
for duty.
See Angels on page 7
Page 6
On The Scene March 2014
Smith explained that Piedmont CI has
two facilities nearly a mile apart, and each
has two shifts.
“Me and my staff have to be at work,
and if that means that I have to go pick
them up at their residence because they
can’t get out, then that’s what I do. … I de-pend
on my employees to help me.
“But the inmates have to eat, whether
it snowed or not. When you have to feed
a thousand men three times a day, you do
whatever it takes to get the job done.” *
Food Service Manager II Margaret
Morgan, Swannanoa Correctional
Center for Women, showed how
much she cares for the prison’s
kitchen staff. She went to work with
her bags packed and a cot, prepared
to endure the storm and cover the
kitchen post.
Once the snow began, Morgan
sent home the staff that was already
at work, and she called and told oth-ers
who were scheduled to work to stay
home and stay safe, because she had it un-der
control. She was thanked for her leader-ship.
*
Neuse Correctional Institution
Food Service Officer Clarence Smith
took the time to pick up co-workers
who couldn’t get to work during the
snow storm.
He volunteered to stay over if he
was needed, and went in extra early
to assure staff coverage. He stated
that he would do whatever it takes to
to keep moving forward. *
Fountain Correctional Center for
Women in Rocky Mount faced the possibil-ity
of a severe staff shortage when most of
the second shift personnel called in unable
to get to work due to the weather. However,
first shift staff remained on post, some until
the next day. The coverage was provided
without complaint. *
Participants in a Juvenile Facilities
leadership meeting during the storm heard
reports about teamwork throughout deten-tion
and development centers, from folks
driving each other home or picking others
up who felt uncomfortable driving on the
roads, or just picking up extra tasks or doing
all they could to get to work because they
knew their co-workers and the children
were counting on them. Juvenile Justice
had transportation teams on the road as
late as 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday during the
extreme traffic situations that occurred
when the snow hit quickly. *
Several employees at Alexander Youth
Detention Center in Taylorsville worked ex-tra
hours to ensure safety and supervision
of the juveniles while also keeping other
employees from having to travel in the
treacherous weather.
Dee Sullivan and Karen Millsaps
worked from the morning of Feb. 12 until
the evening of Feb. 13. Josh Keller and
Will Hedrick worked from Feb. 12 until the
Angels from page 6 At Dobbs Youth
Develop-ment
Center, Kinston,
Shirley Waters,
right, a 24-year
veteran who has
seen “a lot” of
bad weather
days, and James
Cherry, a two-year
employee,
were still hard at
work during the
snow storm. It
was work as usual, getting up early in the morning,
making sure their homes and families were taken
care of and then heading off to work to make sure
the students got hot meals.
Above, officials in a State Highway Patrol telecommunications cen-ter
watch a monitor displaying an image of a truck accident taken
by a traffic camera. Some telecommunicators, those who take
*47 calls and handle other emergency communications, stayed
overnight in their centers rather than trying the dangerous venture
home. The overnighters found it “interesting” trying to sleep in a
place equipped with motion-activated lights. Simply rolling over
would turn the room’s lights on.
Page 7
The deadline for entries for the
2014 Department of Public Safety
Badge of Excellence awards of
recognition has been
extended to April 7.
evening of Feb. 14. They went to work pre-pared
with extra clothes, toiletries and food.
Millsaps took groceries to feed employees,
and, in the absence of the facility’s cooks,
the extra-duty staff prepared meals for the
juveniles. An upbeat and positive attitude
was maintained during the situation.
A January snow storm staff need
was also covered by Millsaps, Keller and
Hedrick, who worked 48 hours straight. *
MORRISVILLE | A new campaign has
been launched to make North Carolina
safer by making it cleaner.
On March 10, Gov. Pat McCrory,
Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry
and North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Commander Col. Bill Grey kicked off
Litter Free NC, a statewide anti-litter
campaign to reduce the amount of litter
in our state by educating the public about
litter’s harmful
effects on public
safety, wildlife and
the environment.
“North Caro-lina
has one of the
most beautiful, di-verse
landscapes
in the nation,”
McCrory said. “From the mountains to
the coast, we take pride in the health
and beauty of our state. Litter Free NC is
not only going to help us preserve North
Carolina’s natural beauty, but also pre-vent
hazards that pose a risk to travelers,
wildlife and their habitats.”
Litter is a public safety hazard and an
eyesore. It puts motorists at risk, harms
wildlife and their habitats, and pollutes
Litter
Free NC
Cleaner = Safer
See Litter on page 9
On The Scene March 2014
Page 8
Trooper Michael Baker.
‘We take pride
in the health
and beauty
of our state.’
Gov. Pat McCrory
Photos by Ryan Guthrie, staff photographer.
On The Scene March 2014
the environment. Millions of taxpayer dollars
are spent each year to pick up and remove road-side
litter. The North Carolina Department of
Transportation spent more than $16 million in
taxes to pick up and remove approximately 7
million pounds of roadside litter in 2013.
“Litter Free NC will combine education and
enforcement efforts to reduce the amount of
litter in North Carolina,” Sec. Perry said. “People
may think litter is a victimless crime, but it im-pacts
people’s safety and well-being, the state’s
budget and shows disregard and indifference
to the environment and the North Carolina we
call home. Millions of tax dollars are used every
year for clean-up. Please join us in spreading
the word about Litter Free NC, because a clean
state is a safer state.”
Col. Grey, commander of the State Highway
Patrol, spoke about the patrol’s litter enforce-ment
program and the dangers litter presents
to motorists. In 2013, the State Highway Patrol
cited 497 drivers for littering and 545 drivers
for unsecured loads.
Through the Litter
Free NC program, mo-torists
will be able to
dial *HP on a cellular
phone to report lit-tering
and unsecured
loads. x
Litter from page 8
Page 9
Watched by several troopers and DPS
Secretary Frank Perry, Gov. Pat McCrory touts
the need to make North Carolina cleaner
through the Litter Free NC initiative.
On The Scene March 2014
By Sgt. Leticia Samuels
RALEIGH | Through a proclamation signed
by Gov. Pat McCrory, March became a
month for the promotion of the North
Carolina National Guard and an opportuni-ty
to inform and educate citizens on all the
programs and benefits that the Guard offers
communities.
“For 377 years, the National Guard has
been alive and well,” said Maj. Gen. Greg
Lusk, adjutant general of North Carolina.
On March 24, 1663, the Carolina
Charter granted the early colonial govern-ment
here the authority to “… levy, muster
and train men …” in order to defend the
property and peoples of the Carolinas. The
NCNG has been on duty ever since.
“During my first 13 months in office, we
have had two of the biggest snow storms in
history, and the National Guard has been
there,” said Gov. Pat McCrory when he
signed the proclamation.
North Carolina National Guard citizen
soldiers and airmen for 351 years have
been trusted by their neighbors to bear
arms in defense of liberty, state and nation.
Heritage Month gives our soldiers and air-men
a chance to show our citizens what we
do as we defend our nation overseas and
train and deploy to support civilian authori-ties
across the state.
“I just want to say thank you,” McCrory
said.
McCrory spoke to the more than 400
Guardsmen and civilian employees attend-ing
the proclamation signing, telling about
his grandfather’s service in WWI.
Gov. Pat McCrory signed the official proclamation deeming March as North Carolina National Guard’s Heritage
Month at Joint Force Headquarters on March 6. On March 24th, 1663, the Carolina Charter granted the right
to “… levy, muster and train men …” to defend the property and peoples of the Carolinas. Gov. McCrory also
shook the hands of soldiers while thanking them for their service.
Photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels, NCNG Public Affairs
“He was a pharmacist from Milwaukee
[Wisconsin] when he signed up in 1918 to
fight,” McCrory said. “At the processing sta-tion,
the clerk did not know how to spell his
occupation, so the clerk wrote ‘farmer,’ and
he was responsible for caring for the hun-dreds
of horses in his unit.”
The Guard is one of the oldest institu-tions
in our state and has served with dis-tinction
in World War I, World War II and
the Global War on Terror. Countless busi-ness,
civic and religious leaders served in
the NCNG throughout its history.
Overseas, the NCNG is decisively en-gaged
with its State Partnership Programs
in Moldova and Botswana and continues
to mobilize units for overseas contingency
operations.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 21,000
N.C. National Guardsmen have been de-ployed
for wartime service. The NCNG was
the first to deploy a reserve component
attack aviation battalion into Afghanistan
in 2002, and the only state to have an
Armored Brigade Combat Team deploy
twice as a maneuver brigade commanding
its own battle-space in Iraq.
During that same time frame, the North
Carolina National Guard has provided more
than 6,100 citizen soldiers and airmen for
“state active duty” missions as directed by
the governor or at the request of other
states.
“It’s not if we are ready, it’s when
we are ready, I know the North Carolina
National Guard will be there,” McCrory said.
“They live by their motto, Always Ready,
Ready Team!” x
Guard celebrates
Heritage Month
Page 10
On The Scene March 2014
By Sgt. Leticia Samuels
RALEIGH | Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile
Seretse, the first female ambassador of
Botswana to the United States, visited
North Carolina for three days in support
of the State Partnership Program, a pro-gram
to foster stronger civil and military
relationships between the U.S. and foreign
countries.
Seretse visited the North Carolina
National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters
in search of new ways to combat the poach-ing
problem in Botswana. Botswana has
the most diverse and sought-after tourist
destination in the world, the Okavango
Delta, which has the largest population of
elephants in Africa.
Seventeen percent of Botswana’s lands
are dedicated as wildlife
preserves, a reflection of the
country’s dedication to its
natural resources. Seretse,
with Col. Bruce Thobane, a
senior Botswana Defence
Force leader, work to find
the newest and most effi-cient
ways to enforce anti-poaching
operations.
Army Maj. Clay Jackson, State
Partnership program coordinator, briefed
the ambassador on techniques for protect-ing
wildlife from poachers, including the
use of unmanned aerial vehicles to better
survey large areas of elephant habitat.
“Botswana has been a major leader in
anti-poaching, and we hope that our work
with the Botswana Defense Force will be a
beacon to other countries,” Jackson said.
Army Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, adjutant
general of North Carolina, met with the
ambassador to discuss poaching issues, the
efforts of Botswana’s president in protect-ing
wildlife and the ongoing relationship
between the Guard and her country.
The ambassador learned more about
local emergency response capabilities from
Darlene Johnson with North Carolina
Emergency Management. Johnson gave a
tour of the state’s emergency management
operations center and explained how dif-ferent
state agencies work together to help
citizens during a natural disaster.
During the visit, the ambassador met
with several environmental experts to dis-cuss
various methods on how the BDF can
conduct surveillance operations. x
Left, a delegation from Botswana, led
by Tebelelo Mazile Seretse, center, the
country’s ambassador to the United States,
visited North Carolina under the State
Partnership Program to explore different
avenues that the Botswana Defence Force
and their government can use to enhance
ways of life in Botswana and combat huge
issues such as poaching and first response
operations. With the ambassador were Col.
Bruce N. Thobane, Botswana Defence,
Military and Air Attache; and Jed Taro
Dornburg, international relations officer
– Botswana and Malawi at U.S. Department
of State. Photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels, N.C.
National Guard Public Affairs.
Botswana ambassador to US confers with NC National Guard NC HART rescues
fallen mountain climber
By Lt. Col. Matt Devivo
SALISBURY | A distress call went out in the after-noon
of March 10 concerning a stranded climber who
fell while ascending the face of the mountain and
landed on a cliff hundreds of feet above the ground
on Shortoff Mountain, in Western North Carolina’s
Linville Gorge wilderness area.
The North Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue
Team (NCHART) was tasked with rescuing the
climbers. Coordinated through N.C. Emergency
Management, the elite specialized team combines
aviation assets from the N.C. National Guard or State
Highway Patrol with highly-trained rescue techni-cians
from fire departments and emergency service
agencies across the state. Monday’s team consisted of
two N.C. National Guard pilots and rescue technicians
from Gaston EMS and Charlotte Fire departments.
The entire rescue was streamed live from a safe
distance by a local news helicopter and can be seen at
wsoctv.com, “Rescuers describe harrowing
ordeal at Linville Gorge.” Shortoff Mountain is near
the Linville Gorge and has a vertical face that is popu-lar
among rock climbers.
The rescue required the Black Hawk to hover
approximately 150 feet above the rock ledge and less
See Rescue on page 12
Page 11
The ambassador
learned about lo-cal
emergency
response ca-pabilities
from
N.C. Emergency
Management.
Photo provided by N.C. National Guard Public Affairs.
On The Scene March 2014
than 15 feet from the rock face.
Capt. Darrell Scoggins, commander for the rescue
mission, was flying the Black Hawk during Monday’s
rescue. He was interviewed at the NCNG flight facil-ity
once the mission was complete. “You’re proud this
guy is going to be reunited with his family,” Scoggins
told a local TV station. “We pulled him out of a sticky
situation and we’re just happy we could be there to
help.”
Capt. Chris Hendricks, with Gaston County
EMS, was the NCHART technician who went down
to retrieve the injured climber and get him into the
helicopter.
“He was pretty concentrated on the pain,”
Hendricks said of the climber who was able to talk to
rescuers. “You could see the look in his face — he was
hurting pretty good.” Hendricks worked with local
Burke County Paramedic Caleb Nicholson who had
already descended the face of the cliff to begin treat-ing
the patient on a small ledge to perform the rescue.
Gaston County EMS reported that the injured
climber was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center-
Main in Charlotte.
“The lasting partnership and year-round training
that the NCNG, N.C. Emergency Management and lo-cal
emergency specialists with NCHART conduct are
the reasons these missions are successful,” Scoggins
said.
The mission was the second successful NCHART
rescue this year. HART crews rescued hikers strand-ed
in Swain County in early January. The teams also
execute missions involving swift water/flood rescue,
lost people and urban/wilderness high angle rescues.
The NCHART program became the first of its kind
in the nation to implement a regimented training and
response program that combines highly-trained local
rescue technicians with state or military aviation as-sets.
This program is celebrating its 10th anniversary
in 2014.
To qualify for the HART team, first responders
had to pass a stringent physical fitness test and com-plete
an intensive 80-hour course that taught them
how to rescue injured people from the ground or wa-ter
and place them in the aircraft. Technicians train
monthly to maintain their certification.
Forty-two rescue technicians from a dozen differ-ent
agencies are qualified as NCHART members. x
Rescue from page 11
On March 12, State Highway Patrol troop-ers,
Alcohol Law Enforcement agents,
correctional officers and dozens of local,
state, and federal law enforcement offi-cers
converged on Fish Hatchery Road in
Burke County after learning that U.S. Forest
Service Officer Jason Crisp was shot when
he confronted a wanted murder suspect.
The suspect, Troy Whisnant, was on
the run after allegedly killing his father and
step-mother, Levi and Rhonda Whisnant.
Earlier in the day, law enforcement
officials determined that Whisnant was in-volved
in a hit and run accident at a private
residence and later stole a wrecker. The
suspect eventually abandoned the wrecker
and attempted to break into a nearby shed
and later fled into woods. As a result, Crisp
and his canine, Maros, were called to assist
in tracking and locating the suspect.
Crisp and his canine came upon the
suspect, and the suspect shot both of them.
Attempts to save Crisp and his dog failed.
Deputy sheriffs, troopers, ALE agents,
and correction officers eventually encoun-tered
Whisnant along a stretch of roadway,
where gunfire was exchanged.
A preliminary autopsy later determined
that Whisnant fatally shot himself in the
head. The sheriff said one of the officer’s
slugs did hit the suspect.
Department of Public Safety Secretary
Frank Perry offered condolences Crisp’s
family and friends. He also commended
the professionalism and bravery of the
many DPS employees who played a role in
the manhunt and takedown of a very dan-gerous
suspect.” x
Law enforcement agencies respond
to fallen U.S. Forest Service officer
The late
Officer.Jason
Crisp and.his
canine on
duty.
Page 12
The Employee Assistance Program service
level has been increased.
As a DPS employee, you and your im-mediate
family now receive up to three
free confidential counseling sessions. These
confidential counseling sessions will help
assess your needs and provide valuable as-sistance
at no cost to you and your immedi-ate
family.
You can contact a counselor at 888-
298-3907, 704-717-5295 or through www.
mygroup.com.
Employee assistance professionals are
available to respond to your calls and assess
your situation 24 hours a day to ensure that
you, or someone in your immediate house-hold
member are receiving the most appro-priate
care.
To Access Work-Life Services through
the above mentioned website you will need
this information:
Username: NCDPS
Password: guest
Confidential
NC EAP is confidential. Seeking as-sistance
from EAP will have no impact on
your work record and will not be noted in
your personnel file. Employee contact with
and participation in this program is volun-tary
and will be kept strictly confidential,
except when required by law. x
Employee Assistance Program service levels increase
On The Scene March 2014
Steve Yount, a grants
manager for the Homeland
Security section of Emer-gency
Management, has
written his second novel,
“Good Rockin’ Tonight,” a
story set in western North
Carolina in 1956 when the
first rock’n’rollers discov-ered
the glories of “cars,
bars and guitars.” Book
reviewers say that Yount’s writing is colorful and
entertaining and it includes historical facts as a
backdrop to good fiction. “Good Rockin’ Tonight”
is being sold on Amazon.com.
Grants manager’s
novel rocks
The State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), along with students across North
Carolina, joined millions of their peers nationwide to celebrate the 16th annual National Education Association’s (NEA)
Read Across America Day, on March 3. Troopers across the state visited local schools and encouraged students to
read, hoping to help reduce illiteracy. Read Across America Day celebrates Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the joys of reading.
Participating in a reading of Dr. Seuss books at Washington GT Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, were, from left,
1st Sgt. Jeff Gordon, Lt. Col. Billy Clayton, NCAE officials President Rodney Ellis and Vice President Mark Jewell, and
Trooper Michael Baker. Courtesy photo by NCAE.
Page 13
Department of Public Safety juvenile
court counselors were in the first
group to be trained as instructors
for the state’s new Youth Mental
Health First Aid program through the
Department of Health and Human
Services. The counselors return to
their communities and train other
adults who regularly deal with young
people to recognize the signs, symp-toms
and risk factors of mental
illnesses and addictions. The instruc-tors
have been equipped to teach
adults how to recognize symptoms,
intervene appropriately and help
adolescents who are struggling. DPS
Secretary Frank Perry was on hand
to congratulate the juvenile court
counselors who were trained. They
are, from left, Teshia Utley-McKoy
of Harnett County, Mary Jordan of
Wake County and Pamela Fowler
of Durham County. Courtesy photo by
DHHS.
First to be trained
Highway Patrol and NC Association of Educators rev up for ‘Read Across America Day’
Early in the evening of March 2, Wilbert Darcus III, a
processing assistant IV in Adult Facilities Administration,
was flagged down by a distressed motorist who had
parked his vehicle, with his family inside, on US Highway
70 east near Clayton.
Darcus soon saw a motorcycle on its side in the road
but he saw no rider. The motorist, who had seen the
biker go over a guard rail, directed Darcus to the location,
where Darcus discerned that the wreck had been fatal to
the biker.
A former Garner Police Department employee,
Darcus took actions that assisted first responder emer-gency
personnel. He advised a 911 dispatcher of the wreck
location and the victim’s condition, in additon to helping
ensure witnesses provided accounts to law enforcement
personnel investigating the wreck.
Employee helps first responders at tragic scene
On The Scene March 2014
P R O M O T I O N S
ADMINISTRATION
David Buchanan, electronics technician IV, Facility Management-Eastern Region
Gary Cox, business and technology application specialist,
IT Application Development Team 1
Elizabeth Dail, personnel analyst I, Human Resources Employment & Benefits
Brandon Housley, maintenance mechanic IV, Facility Management-
Piedmont Region
Tyler Oxendine, plumber II, Facility Management-Piedmont Region
Monica Shabo, program development coordinator, Office of Staff Development
& Training
ADULT CORRECTION & JUVENILE JUSTICE
ADULT FACILITIES
Michael Allman, food service manager I, Piedmont Correctional Institution
Dwayne Baker, superintendent II, N. Piedmont CI
Lillie Ballance, programs supervisor, Pasquotank CI
Jordan Barfield, sergeant, Pasquotank CI
Albert Boca, sergeant, Pasquotank CI
Monette Brady, sergeant, Southern CI
Tyrode Brounson, sergeant, Maury CI
Iris Brown, programs supervisor, New Hanover CI
Hope Bryant, programs director I, Pamlico CI
Patrick Buchan, food service manager I, Warren CI
Booker Carson, diagnostic center director, Foothills CI
Melanie Cox, programs supervisor, Tabor CI
Adarryl Cradle, lead correctional officer, Hyde CI
Ventura DeVane, programs supervisor, Raleigh Correctional Center for Women
Tashecia Dumas, sergeant, Morrison CI
Stephen Farrow, sergeant, Greene CI
Tammy Fennell, lieutenant, Bertie CI
Priscilla Gardner, sergeant, Pasquotank CI
Matthew Hall, transfer coordinator III, Administration
Michael Hall, sergeant, Greene CI
Karen Henderson, captain, Scotland CI
Fletcher Hicks, lieutenant, Piedmont CI
James Howdeshell, sergeant, N. Piedmont CCW
Allen Huffman, HVAC supervisor I, Alexander CI
Joshua Jackson, sergeant, Maury CI
Diane Jones, sergeant, Pamlico CI
Frances Joyner, food service manager I, Caswell CC
Gary Keily, sergeant, Central Prison
Cindy McLean, nurse director, Central Prison Health Complex
Robert Mitchell, administrator I, Lanesboro CI
Jesse Newsome, lead correctional officer, Albemarle CI
Jared O’Neal, maintenance mechanic IV, Brown Creek CI
Donnie Raynor, inmate disciplinary hearing officer, Administration
Miriam Schaul, staff psychologist, NC CI for Women
Lisa Shull, sergeant, Polk CI
Alicia Thomas, psychological services coordinator, Neuse CI
Alan Walker, sergeant, Catawba Correctional Center
Alfred Williams, inmate disciplinary hearing officer, Prison Administration
Lavar Williams, food service manager II, Franklin CC
COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
John Bivins, chief probation/parole officer, District 22
Sandy Boyette, chief probation/parole officer, District 11
Bryan Branch, assistant district manager I, District 27
Carleen Edwards, chief probation/parole officer, District 26B
Pamela Gardner, substance abuse program consultant,
Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center
Brian Gates, division administrator, Division 3 Administration
Lisa McManus, personnel technican I, Personnel
Ashton Miller, probation/parole officer, District 25
Darlene Mitchiner, chief probation/parole officer, District 29
Chad Owens, assistant chief of special operations, Administration
Jerry Presnell, chief probation/parole officer, District 30
Yvonne Scott, personnel assistant IV, Division 3 Administration
Crystal Small, juvenile court counselor, Juvenile Justice District 14
Warren Turner, chief probation/parole officer, District 27
Catherine Wade, district manager III, District 7
Angela Williams, assistant district manager I, District 21
CORRECTION ENTERPRISES
Daniel Harrell, supervisor II, Caledonia CI
Brandon Mabrey, supervisor II, Caledonia CI
JUVENILE FACILITIES
Jameka Patrick, facility director, Dobbs YDC
REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS & SUPPORT SERVICES
Duane Cogdell, transitional services coordinator, Central Office
Cynthia Trickel, director of juvenile programs & student support services, Central Office
In February 2014 unless indicated otherwise.
Page 14
See Promotions on page 15
On The Scene March 2014
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Jeffrey Childs, statewide interoperability coordinator, Operations
Mary Donny, branch manager, Human Services
Zakare Whicker, radiological emergency preparedness planner, Operations
R E T I R E M E N T S In February 2014 unless indicated otherwise.
ADMINISTRATION
Employee’s name, job, organizational unit, length of service
Steven Rector, mason supervisor, Facility Management – Western Region, 20y
David Thompson, auditor, Internal Audit, 11y3m
ADULT CORRECTION & JUVENILE JUSTICE
ADULT FACILITIES
Larry Axsom, correctional officer, Piedmont Correctional Institution, 10y7m
Robert Benjamin, training specialist II, Pamlico CI, 16y6m
Linda Boykin, processing assistant IV, Johnston CI, 19y1m
George Briggs, correctional officer, Maury CI, 8y6m
Patrick Brown, correctional officer, Hoke CI, 20y3m
Paul Campbell, correctional officer, Catawba Correctional Center, 19y4m
Doris Chance, case manager, Hoke CI, 19y2m
Luis Chevere, correctional officer, Hoke CI, 16y3m
Cheryl Cooper, correctional officer, Eastern CI, 18y6m
Edna Flowers, correctional officer, Sanford CC, 11y4m
Jane Fussell, nurse consultant, Administration - Health Services, 24y7m
Gary Garmon, correctional officer, Foothills CI, 10y5m
Mary Gilmore, sergeant, Polk CI, 14y6m
Albert Goff, correctional officer, Columbus CC, 11y1m
Charles Hansen, professional nurse, Albemarle CI, 9y2m
Danny Hart, lieutenant, Polk CI, 24y8m
John Heberlein, correctional officer, Piedmont CI, 31y2m
Chester Hunter, sergeant, Nash CI, 27y
Ray Jackson, correctional officer, Central Prison, 26y
Larry Kearney, correctional officer, Nash CI, 8y3m
Maria Kristula, correctional officer, Raleigh CC for Women, 6y2m
Winfred McIver, correctional officer, Sanford CC, 29y3m
Edwin Mills, sergeant, Piedmont CI, 28y8m
Brenda North, office assistant IV, New Hanover CI, 18y8m
Aro Parker, correctional officer, Odom CI, 29y9m
Jason Parnell, correctional officer, Wilkes CC, 22y
Ronnie Ritchie, sergeant, Lincoln CC, 21y4m
Douglas Schmarkey, sergeant, Catawba CC, 32y
Sherwood Smith, licensed practical nurse, Central Prison Health Complex, 26y2m
David Stephenson, correctional officer, Davidson CC, 9y3m
Sheila Taylor, correctional officer, Lanesboro CI, 8y
William Twitty, correctional officer, Warren CI, 16y10m
Jimmy White, correctional officer, Piedmont CI, 24y10m
Larry Williams, correctional officer, Hoke CI, 29y8m
Janice Wombough, professional nurse, Administration - Health Services, 22y2m
COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
Vicki Bartholomew, juvenile court counselor supervisor, West Region, District 25, 19y
Nancy Blue, office assistant III, District 18A, 22y8m
Cornell Hopkins, probation/parole officer, District 12, 19y4m
Connie Neelands, office assistant IV, District 27, 10y1m
LAW ENFORCEMENT
STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
Phillip Glover, master trooper, Troop H, District 4, 27y10m
Leah McCall, master trooper, Troop G, District 6, 28y1m
Teia Poulin, lieutenant, Beacon Position Manager, 23y7m
Ronald Raybon, telecommunications shift supervisor, Troop H,
Telecommunications, 29y3m
Timothy Sinclair, sergeant, Troop B, District 4, 28y6m
Georgia Warren, sergeant, Respiratory Protection, 22y2m
Eugene Wooten, master trooper, Troop E, District 6, 16y5m
NATIONAL GUARD
Jeffrey Young, facility maintenance supervisor III, Facility Management, 34y6m
ADULT CORRECTION & JUVENILE JUSTICE
ADULT FACILITIES
June Grant, correctional officer, Eastern CI, 29y6m
P A S S I N G
Promotions continued from page 14
Page 15

Scene M A R C H 2 0 1 4
Snow
angels . . . page 3
On The Scene March 2014 Page 2
In his cruiser, State
Capitol Police Officer
Ronald McCoy
stands watch outside
the Governor’s
Mansion during the
February snow and
ice storm. Photo
courtesy of State
Capitol Police.
Index
What’s inside?
The Cover Story: Snow angels.................3
Litter Free NC.............................................................................8
National Guard heritage......................................................10
Another dramatic HART rescue.....................................11
Agents converge for fallen officer........................12
First trained......................................................13
Promotions............................................................14
Retirements, passing...............................................15
On The Scene March 2014
Adversity seems to bring out the best in most people, and the Feb.
12 snow storm brought trouble aplenty but also plentiful stories
about good things people did for each other and their commitment
to their jobs.
Here are employee reports submitted in response to On The
Scene’s call for their deeds or those of co-workers ensuring public
safety was preserved or helping a friend, neighbor or stranger who
had no other assistance available.
On Feb. 12, State Capitol Police Officer Thomas
Rochford decided to take a different route home.
The change possibly saved a woman’s life.
The woman’s husband had been called to
work, which left their daughter alone at home.
The woman had no way to get home except to
walk — from her job on Wade Avenue to McGee’s
Crossroads, some 25 or so miles away. She was
dressed in office attire, not snow wear.
Rochford,s route took him through the inter-section
of Timber Drive and NC Highway 50 in
Garner. That’s where he saw the woman, who had
already walked about 11 miles.
Rochford at first drove past her, but he
stopped, backed up and asked if she wanted a ride.
She hesitated. Still in his police uniform, Rochford
convinced her it was safe, and the woman ac-cepted
the ride.
Rochford had stopped to offer help to someone
he did not know, whose circumstances he did not
know. He drove numerous miles out of his way to
help a stranger in need.
“She had to get home to her daughter,” he said. *
Trooper Royce Barham got a YouTube shout-out from business
Stories from the snow
Tales of valor, heart and humor
consultant Vincent K. Harris, who said Barham took time to dig him
out of the snow when he was stuck in Triple Lakes, even though
Barham was with his family.
“Your kindness is totally appreciated,” Harris said. “Below you
will find a video I created to express my gratitude.” *
A past automobile accident had given Gloria O’Neal, program
supervisor at Central Prison, good reason to be extra concerned
while attempting to drive home during the snowstorm. She said it
helped her to know that co-worker Brandy Ballard, personnel tech-nician
I, was following her as they drove on Rock Quarry Road east
of Raleigh.
“During this time the traffic, snow and sleet were heavy,” O’Neal
said. “Brandy was checking on me several times while on the road
for four hours waiting to move.”
At one point, Brandy made her way to O’Neal’s car, slipping and
almost falling, and began cleaning the back window of O’Neal’s car.
“She risked her safety while helping me,” O’Neal said. *
Pauline Powell, educational development aide at Dillon Youth
Development Center in Butner, described her journey home to
Louisburg on Feb. 12 as an 11-hour faith journey.
She left Dillon at 1 p.m. for a 49-mile trip home over hilly rural
roads and an interstate highway, almost constantly praying. Powell
described being stuck a few times, but always getting going again
due to the help of people who she called “angels God sent” to her aid.
She saw numerous sliding, cars that needed to be towed, some
of them damaged, and jack-knifed trucks. She also saw numerous
other “angels” helping people, too.
“Men were sent to deliver me from the hindrances of my jour-ney,”
she said. “A special thank you to them for being out on the
road in spite of inclement weather. No money changed hands.” *
State Capitol Police
Officer Thomas Rochford
See Angels on page 4
Page 3
On The Scene March 2014
John Del Greco, a systems accountant,
saw that a young woman’s car was get-ting
too little traction to move and it was
blocking Del Greco’s car and others in an
intersection.
“She asked me to go around her, [but]
I told her I will try to push her while she
tried to move slowly,” Del Greco said. “The
traffic behind me stayed patient. Once I
got her going she kept waving at me until I
turned into my development.” *
Randy Nicoll, a food service officer at
Brown Creek Correctional Institution, made
the 100-mile round trip commute each day
in his two-wheel drive pickup truck. He
said the trip to or from work normally takes
an hour.
“The trip to work the first day was two
hours and back to home was four hours,” he
said. *
By Pamela Walker, Communications Director
As a colleague and I made our way home during North
Carolina’s snowstorm of the decade, we had an encoun-ter
with a troubled young man that I will never forget.
After working 15-plus hours at the State Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) during North Carolina’s Feb.
13th snowstorm, Law Enforcement Commissioner Greg
Baker and I set out for what was expected to be a slow
trek home.
We had been part of the team of hundreds of state
employees from public safety, transportation, National
Guard, wildlife resources, first responders and others
managing the response to the State of Emergency. The
EOC was the hub for deploying state troopers to assist
accident victims; responding to requests for Humvees to
transport emergency personnel to hospitals or residents
to shelters; strategizing with transportation officials about
plowing roadways through a constantly changing weather
situation; and so much more.
It was time for some of us to go home and the next
shift to take over. Commissioner Baker and I set out in a
four-wheel drive vehicle to navigate the slick roads. We
were to meet my husband at a predetermined location.
We had been on the road about 10 minutes, mak-ing
our way on I-440 (Raleigh’s Beltline), when Baker
exclaimed, “Did you see that guy?!” He stopped the ve-hicle
on the deserted Beltline and started backing up. A
man was laying on the edge of the highway in the snow.
As a law enforcement professional, Baker was very
cautious and informed me that we would both stay in the
car. He put the window down to get a better sense of the
situation. We pulled alongside the man not knowing if he
had been hit by a car or was in some kind of distress.
Baker said, “Sir, do you need some help?”
The young man (whom I will call “Joe”) sat up par-tially
in the snow, laughed and then mumbled some-thing.
Then he tried to stand up and steady himself,
swaying the whole time and repeatedly falling in the wet
snow. The man was soaking wet and said, “I’m so cold,”
and in an obvious and uncontrollable state of impair-ment,
he attempted to reach the side of our car.
Fearing that the man would stumble into the road-
George Dudley, a specialist in
the Communications Office, needed
more than four hours to make a 20-
minute drive from the Joint Force
Headquarters/Emergency Operations
Center in Raleigh to his home near
Wake Forest.
The trip would have taken less time
had Dudley not stopped three times
to use his pickup truck to help people
get their cars moving. The day before,
he had the truck loaded with firewood
and had put a chain in the back, just in
case either was needed. The firewood
gave his two-wheel drive truck trac-tion,
and the chain gave him a tool to
help people.
During one stop on Blue Ridge
Road, an N.C. National Guard soldier
helped Dudley with a stuck motorist.
The soldier was gladly helping other
people, too.
Later, on Capital Boulevard, Dudley
saw a Wake County sheriff’s deputy try-ing
unsuccessfully to help a motorist climb
an icy hill. Dudley pulled the motorist to the
top of the hill, while the deputy kept other
traffic at a safe distance. *
Correctional Officer Phillip Hendricks
of Piedmont Correctional Institution used
his tractor to clear the snow out of many of
his neighbors’ driveways without taking a
dime. *
Several reports told of employees’ dedica-tion
to their jobs, recognizing the impor-tance
of keeping prisons secure with suf-ficient
staff.
Perhaps Thomas McCall of Foothills
Correctional Institution became the “poster
child” for job dedication, when he decided
that he could get to work by riding his
lawn mower to make the 9-mile trip from
Valdese to Morganton.
After two hours and a fuel refill stop,
McCall arrived safely. *
Angels from page 3
Down and out,
dangerous, too
Correctional Officer Thomas McCall making
news as he makes his way to work at Foothills
Correctional Institution. (Courtesy photo)
See Angels on page 5
See Down on page 5
Page 4
On The Scene March 2014
On Feb. 13, Albemarle
Correctional Institution’s
Officer Jeff Bowers also knew
he was needed at work, espe-cially
aware that a staff short-age
was possible that day.
But he could not get his truck
out of his driveway. The road
conditions were very bad,
and he did not call anyone to
pick him up for fear of put-ting
them in jeopardy.
Bowers left his home on
foot at approximately 4:15
that morning. He walked more than 6 miles
to get to work, arriving nearly 2-and-a-half
hours later.
At Albemarle CI, Bowers was hailed as
“a shining example of dedication, teamwork
and genuine concern for the safety of citi-zens,
staff and facility.” *
Among those at Marion
Correctional Institution who
were prepared for the storm
were three nurses who went
above and beyond the call of duty
to make sure the facility had a
medical presence throughout this
ordeal.
They were:
Sonya Brown, third shift
LPN, who worked by herself Feb.
12-13, dispensing medications to inmates in
regular population and in segregation, as
well as performing normal shift routine job
assignments until relief arrived. First shift
nurses were unable to report for work, so
Brown volunteered to stay through first
shift to assist with coverage. She worked
approximately 18 hours.
Josephine Thompson, third shift RN,
helped out on second shift, often doubling
back from third with little sleep during
February. On Feb. 12, during the winter
storm, Thompson drove and picked up one
of the third shift nurses so the Institution
would have nursing coverage. She followed
that up by coming in early on first shift the
next day and working through second shift,
because first shift nurses were unable to re-port
for duty.
Richard Kidd, second shift lead nurse,
assisted with picking up and taking home
staff on Feb. 12 during inclement weather
to ensure second shift was adequately cov-ered.
He assisted with coverage until the
third shift nurse could get in and made ar-rangements
for a ride home with custody
staff on Feb. 13. Later that day, calling in to
check on staffing, he found that first shift
staff were unable to report for work. Kidd
went in early to assist with coverage, ex-tending
his shift to organize and prioritize
duties within the Medical Department.
It was noted that, “while this latest
round of inclement weather found many
unprepared, nurses Brown, Thompson and
Kidd demonstrated a level of professional-ism,
dedication, and preparedness that sets
them apart from the rest.” *
Lillie Balance, program supervisor,
Pasquotank Correctional Institution in
Elizabeth City, said, “We here at Pasquotank
CI all pulled together as a team to help each
other.”
Several staff members who live close to
the prison offered to allow others who were
further out to stay in their homes so they
way, I told him to get on the rail because he would be
warmer over there. The young man immediately became
belligerent and he began screaming obscenities. I dialed
star (*) HP, and described the situation to the Highway
Patrol Communication Center operator.
Baker finally convinced him to lean on the rail and
that is when Joe sat and sobbed. A minute later, Col. Bill
Grey of the Highway Patrol arrived. Col. Grey and Baker
then approached the young man to determine if he was
injured in any manner and to attempt to determine how
he arrived at that location.
A few moments later, Raleigh police arrived on the
scene to assist. Joe’s driver’s license and vehicle infor-mation
was checked, and it was immediately determined
that a car parked about 50 yards down the roadway was
in fact registered to him.
Joe was secured in the patrol vehicle and the focus
turned to his vehicle where it was discovered that anoth-er
male was and had been sitting, observing everything
that had occurred. This is the very reason that good
Samaritans should always approach these situations
with caution and never alone.
The man, sitting in the passenger seat, was also ob-viously
impaired and told the officers that an unidentified
woman had been driving. No woman was in sight, and
after a thorough search, no woman was found. It is likely
that the story was made up in an effort to deflect any
criminal charges.
It was also determined that Joe’s car was out of
gas, likely divine intervention. The results could have
been catastrophic had he continued driving in his state
of impairment. A trooper transported Joe to jail where
he faced a host of charges and a $12,000 bond. I later
learned that he had three prior DWI convictions.
Although Joe is in serious trouble, he is alive and
has one more opportunity to re-chart his course in life.
I wonder if he will. I wonder if he will recognize what the
rest of us did that night. I wonder if he will recognize how
fortunate he was that on a blistering cold and snowy
night, he was rescued from a certain tragic end by peo-ple
who care, even when the people they help don’t.
Joe may not be feeling so lucky today, but he should
be thankful for fate bringing the commissioner of Law
Enforcement and the commander of the Highway Patrol
to his aid. I hope that is a sobering call heard loud and
clear and that Joe gets some help before he hurts him-self
or someone else. *
Angels from page 4 Angels from page 4
Correctional
Officer
Jeff Bowers
Nurses
Richard Kidd,
above, and,
right, Sonya
Brown and
Josephine
Thompson.
See Angels on page 6
Page 5
On The Scene March 2014
could get to work. Balance’s husband gave
several staff members door-to-door rides to
and from work.
“We have continued this kind of help
with each passing storm,” she said. “As we
are known as the ‘Tank,’ I think we have
pulled together as a whole like the tracks
that make a tank travel as a whole not as a
lost machine.” *
During the snow and ice storm which
occurred Feb. 12-14, Catawba Correctional
Center had 100 percent of essential staff
and management report for duty. The at-tendance
covered all four custody rotations
and correctional officers assigned to 8-hour
Monday-Friday positions.
Correctional staff made arrangements
in advance of the storm to position their
vehicles where they would have access to
main roadways or made arrangements with
other employees who had four-wheel drive
vehicles. The majority of correctional staff
reside in surrounding counties, and some
travel 35-40 miles each way. Employees
encountered roads with snow and ice accu-mulations
ranging 8 to 15 inches.
Correctional staff reported early for
line-up to be assigned a post, in order to
allow the preceding shift extra time to get
home. Officers brought extra uniforms,
sleeping bags and other essentials if they
were needed to remain at the facility.
It was said that, “Catawba CC is truly
blessed to have a group of employees that
are this dedicated to their job responsibili-ties
and each other.” *
Numerous staff members at Caledonia
Correctional Institution who stayed over-night
to help with the facility operations on
Feb. 12 due to inclement weather were com-mended
for their hard work, support and
dedication:
In Operations, Capt. Daryl Williams
and Officers Hidegarde Bobbitt,
Linwood Harrell, Frogan Hedgepeth,
Regina Powell, Heather Tuck and
BarbaraWhitaker.
In Unit 2, Officers Charles Barfield and
Maurice Dickens.
In Unit 3, Officers Courtney Alston,
Kathleen Battle and Peter Normand.
In Unit 4, Unit Manager Donald Greene,
Assistant Unit Manager James Durham
and Officers Patricia Arrington, David
Hartsfield, Christopher Kirton and
Davina Sharpe.
In Maintenance, Thomas Thomas, Mark
Lucy and Steve Moore.
In Medical, Aundrea Alston.
In Transportation, Johnny Arrington,
Kevin Craft and Craig Pleasant. *
Among the many critical functions
of a prison is its warehouse, which Sgt
Christopher Nichols oversees at Alexander
Correctional Institution. The warehouse
provides all of the cleaning supplies and
clothes for the inmates five days a week for
a population that amounts to a small city.
Icy roads the morning after the snow-storm
prevented several warehouse em-ployees
from being able to get to work.
However, Nichols was determined to make
it to work, and he drove more than 60 miles
picking up two other employees on his way
to Alexander.
Richard Wilson, Alexancer CI canteen
supervisor, said Sgt Nichols is “a very de-termined
and helpful person who helps
his employees and backs them while do-ing
their work … and deserves recognition
for his efforts. …He may not have driven a
lawn mower to work, but his efforts were
just as great. We all appreciate him for the
boss that he is.” *
Another critical daily function at a prison
is food. A snow storm doesn’t stop the need
for meals three times a day.
Stephen W. Smith, correctional
food service manager III at Piedmont
Correctional Institution, is responsible for
3,000 meals per day.
“It was critical for all Food Service staff
to be on post to ensure that all inmates
were served their meals,” he said. “Many of
our Food Staff live a good distance from our
unit.”
Smith used his four-wheel drive vehicle
to go “beyond what most would have done”
and picked up all employees who were to be
on post during the snow.
“Mr. Smith is a very dedicated manager,
and I am not only blessed but honored to
be a part of his well organized Food Service
team,” said Frank Pleasants, a food service
officer.
Angels from page 5
Road conditions on I-40 near Catawba
Correctional Center were treacherous, yet
the facility had 100 percent of staff report
for duty.
See Angels on page 7
Page 6
On The Scene March 2014
Smith explained that Piedmont CI has
two facilities nearly a mile apart, and each
has two shifts.
“Me and my staff have to be at work,
and if that means that I have to go pick
them up at their residence because they
can’t get out, then that’s what I do. … I de-pend
on my employees to help me.
“But the inmates have to eat, whether
it snowed or not. When you have to feed
a thousand men three times a day, you do
whatever it takes to get the job done.” *
Food Service Manager II Margaret
Morgan, Swannanoa Correctional
Center for Women, showed how
much she cares for the prison’s
kitchen staff. She went to work with
her bags packed and a cot, prepared
to endure the storm and cover the
kitchen post.
Once the snow began, Morgan
sent home the staff that was already
at work, and she called and told oth-ers
who were scheduled to work to stay
home and stay safe, because she had it un-der
control. She was thanked for her leader-ship.
*
Neuse Correctional Institution
Food Service Officer Clarence Smith
took the time to pick up co-workers
who couldn’t get to work during the
snow storm.
He volunteered to stay over if he
was needed, and went in extra early
to assure staff coverage. He stated
that he would do whatever it takes to
to keep moving forward. *
Fountain Correctional Center for
Women in Rocky Mount faced the possibil-ity
of a severe staff shortage when most of
the second shift personnel called in unable
to get to work due to the weather. However,
first shift staff remained on post, some until
the next day. The coverage was provided
without complaint. *
Participants in a Juvenile Facilities
leadership meeting during the storm heard
reports about teamwork throughout deten-tion
and development centers, from folks
driving each other home or picking others
up who felt uncomfortable driving on the
roads, or just picking up extra tasks or doing
all they could to get to work because they
knew their co-workers and the children
were counting on them. Juvenile Justice
had transportation teams on the road as
late as 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday during the
extreme traffic situations that occurred
when the snow hit quickly. *
Several employees at Alexander Youth
Detention Center in Taylorsville worked ex-tra
hours to ensure safety and supervision
of the juveniles while also keeping other
employees from having to travel in the
treacherous weather.
Dee Sullivan and Karen Millsaps
worked from the morning of Feb. 12 until
the evening of Feb. 13. Josh Keller and
Will Hedrick worked from Feb. 12 until the
Angels from page 6 At Dobbs Youth
Develop-ment
Center, Kinston,
Shirley Waters,
right, a 24-year
veteran who has
seen “a lot” of
bad weather
days, and James
Cherry, a two-year
employee,
were still hard at
work during the
snow storm. It
was work as usual, getting up early in the morning,
making sure their homes and families were taken
care of and then heading off to work to make sure
the students got hot meals.
Above, officials in a State Highway Patrol telecommunications cen-ter
watch a monitor displaying an image of a truck accident taken
by a traffic camera. Some telecommunicators, those who take
*47 calls and handle other emergency communications, stayed
overnight in their centers rather than trying the dangerous venture
home. The overnighters found it “interesting” trying to sleep in a
place equipped with motion-activated lights. Simply rolling over
would turn the room’s lights on.
Page 7
The deadline for entries for the
2014 Department of Public Safety
Badge of Excellence awards of
recognition has been
extended to April 7.
evening of Feb. 14. They went to work pre-pared
with extra clothes, toiletries and food.
Millsaps took groceries to feed employees,
and, in the absence of the facility’s cooks,
the extra-duty staff prepared meals for the
juveniles. An upbeat and positive attitude
was maintained during the situation.
A January snow storm staff need
was also covered by Millsaps, Keller and
Hedrick, who worked 48 hours straight. *
MORRISVILLE | A new campaign has
been launched to make North Carolina
safer by making it cleaner.
On March 10, Gov. Pat McCrory,
Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry
and North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Commander Col. Bill Grey kicked off
Litter Free NC, a statewide anti-litter
campaign to reduce the amount of litter
in our state by educating the public about
litter’s harmful
effects on public
safety, wildlife and
the environment.
“North Caro-lina
has one of the
most beautiful, di-verse
landscapes
in the nation,”
McCrory said. “From the mountains to
the coast, we take pride in the health
and beauty of our state. Litter Free NC is
not only going to help us preserve North
Carolina’s natural beauty, but also pre-vent
hazards that pose a risk to travelers,
wildlife and their habitats.”
Litter is a public safety hazard and an
eyesore. It puts motorists at risk, harms
wildlife and their habitats, and pollutes
Litter
Free NC
Cleaner = Safer
See Litter on page 9
On The Scene March 2014
Page 8
Trooper Michael Baker.
‘We take pride
in the health
and beauty
of our state.’
Gov. Pat McCrory
Photos by Ryan Guthrie, staff photographer.
On The Scene March 2014
the environment. Millions of taxpayer dollars
are spent each year to pick up and remove road-side
litter. The North Carolina Department of
Transportation spent more than $16 million in
taxes to pick up and remove approximately 7
million pounds of roadside litter in 2013.
“Litter Free NC will combine education and
enforcement efforts to reduce the amount of
litter in North Carolina,” Sec. Perry said. “People
may think litter is a victimless crime, but it im-pacts
people’s safety and well-being, the state’s
budget and shows disregard and indifference
to the environment and the North Carolina we
call home. Millions of tax dollars are used every
year for clean-up. Please join us in spreading
the word about Litter Free NC, because a clean
state is a safer state.”
Col. Grey, commander of the State Highway
Patrol, spoke about the patrol’s litter enforce-ment
program and the dangers litter presents
to motorists. In 2013, the State Highway Patrol
cited 497 drivers for littering and 545 drivers
for unsecured loads.
Through the Litter
Free NC program, mo-torists
will be able to
dial *HP on a cellular
phone to report lit-tering
and unsecured
loads. x
Litter from page 8
Page 9
Watched by several troopers and DPS
Secretary Frank Perry, Gov. Pat McCrory touts
the need to make North Carolina cleaner
through the Litter Free NC initiative.
On The Scene March 2014
By Sgt. Leticia Samuels
RALEIGH | Through a proclamation signed
by Gov. Pat McCrory, March became a
month for the promotion of the North
Carolina National Guard and an opportuni-ty
to inform and educate citizens on all the
programs and benefits that the Guard offers
communities.
“For 377 years, the National Guard has
been alive and well,” said Maj. Gen. Greg
Lusk, adjutant general of North Carolina.
On March 24, 1663, the Carolina
Charter granted the early colonial govern-ment
here the authority to “… levy, muster
and train men …” in order to defend the
property and peoples of the Carolinas. The
NCNG has been on duty ever since.
“During my first 13 months in office, we
have had two of the biggest snow storms in
history, and the National Guard has been
there,” said Gov. Pat McCrory when he
signed the proclamation.
North Carolina National Guard citizen
soldiers and airmen for 351 years have
been trusted by their neighbors to bear
arms in defense of liberty, state and nation.
Heritage Month gives our soldiers and air-men
a chance to show our citizens what we
do as we defend our nation overseas and
train and deploy to support civilian authori-ties
across the state.
“I just want to say thank you,” McCrory
said.
McCrory spoke to the more than 400
Guardsmen and civilian employees attend-ing
the proclamation signing, telling about
his grandfather’s service in WWI.
Gov. Pat McCrory signed the official proclamation deeming March as North Carolina National Guard’s Heritage
Month at Joint Force Headquarters on March 6. On March 24th, 1663, the Carolina Charter granted the right
to “… levy, muster and train men …” to defend the property and peoples of the Carolinas. Gov. McCrory also
shook the hands of soldiers while thanking them for their service.
Photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels, NCNG Public Affairs
“He was a pharmacist from Milwaukee
[Wisconsin] when he signed up in 1918 to
fight,” McCrory said. “At the processing sta-tion,
the clerk did not know how to spell his
occupation, so the clerk wrote ‘farmer,’ and
he was responsible for caring for the hun-dreds
of horses in his unit.”
The Guard is one of the oldest institu-tions
in our state and has served with dis-tinction
in World War I, World War II and
the Global War on Terror. Countless busi-ness,
civic and religious leaders served in
the NCNG throughout its history.
Overseas, the NCNG is decisively en-gaged
with its State Partnership Programs
in Moldova and Botswana and continues
to mobilize units for overseas contingency
operations.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 21,000
N.C. National Guardsmen have been de-ployed
for wartime service. The NCNG was
the first to deploy a reserve component
attack aviation battalion into Afghanistan
in 2002, and the only state to have an
Armored Brigade Combat Team deploy
twice as a maneuver brigade commanding
its own battle-space in Iraq.
During that same time frame, the North
Carolina National Guard has provided more
than 6,100 citizen soldiers and airmen for
“state active duty” missions as directed by
the governor or at the request of other
states.
“It’s not if we are ready, it’s when
we are ready, I know the North Carolina
National Guard will be there,” McCrory said.
“They live by their motto, Always Ready,
Ready Team!” x
Guard celebrates
Heritage Month
Page 10
On The Scene March 2014
By Sgt. Leticia Samuels
RALEIGH | Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile
Seretse, the first female ambassador of
Botswana to the United States, visited
North Carolina for three days in support
of the State Partnership Program, a pro-gram
to foster stronger civil and military
relationships between the U.S. and foreign
countries.
Seretse visited the North Carolina
National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters
in search of new ways to combat the poach-ing
problem in Botswana. Botswana has
the most diverse and sought-after tourist
destination in the world, the Okavango
Delta, which has the largest population of
elephants in Africa.
Seventeen percent of Botswana’s lands
are dedicated as wildlife
preserves, a reflection of the
country’s dedication to its
natural resources. Seretse,
with Col. Bruce Thobane, a
senior Botswana Defence
Force leader, work to find
the newest and most effi-cient
ways to enforce anti-poaching
operations.
Army Maj. Clay Jackson, State
Partnership program coordinator, briefed
the ambassador on techniques for protect-ing
wildlife from poachers, including the
use of unmanned aerial vehicles to better
survey large areas of elephant habitat.
“Botswana has been a major leader in
anti-poaching, and we hope that our work
with the Botswana Defense Force will be a
beacon to other countries,” Jackson said.
Army Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, adjutant
general of North Carolina, met with the
ambassador to discuss poaching issues, the
efforts of Botswana’s president in protect-ing
wildlife and the ongoing relationship
between the Guard and her country.
The ambassador learned more about
local emergency response capabilities from
Darlene Johnson with North Carolina
Emergency Management. Johnson gave a
tour of the state’s emergency management
operations center and explained how dif-ferent
state agencies work together to help
citizens during a natural disaster.
During the visit, the ambassador met
with several environmental experts to dis-cuss
various methods on how the BDF can
conduct surveillance operations. x
Left, a delegation from Botswana, led
by Tebelelo Mazile Seretse, center, the
country’s ambassador to the United States,
visited North Carolina under the State
Partnership Program to explore different
avenues that the Botswana Defence Force
and their government can use to enhance
ways of life in Botswana and combat huge
issues such as poaching and first response
operations. With the ambassador were Col.
Bruce N. Thobane, Botswana Defence,
Military and Air Attache; and Jed Taro
Dornburg, international relations officer
– Botswana and Malawi at U.S. Department
of State. Photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels, N.C.
National Guard Public Affairs.
Botswana ambassador to US confers with NC National Guard NC HART rescues
fallen mountain climber
By Lt. Col. Matt Devivo
SALISBURY | A distress call went out in the after-noon
of March 10 concerning a stranded climber who
fell while ascending the face of the mountain and
landed on a cliff hundreds of feet above the ground
on Shortoff Mountain, in Western North Carolina’s
Linville Gorge wilderness area.
The North Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue
Team (NCHART) was tasked with rescuing the
climbers. Coordinated through N.C. Emergency
Management, the elite specialized team combines
aviation assets from the N.C. National Guard or State
Highway Patrol with highly-trained rescue techni-cians
from fire departments and emergency service
agencies across the state. Monday’s team consisted of
two N.C. National Guard pilots and rescue technicians
from Gaston EMS and Charlotte Fire departments.
The entire rescue was streamed live from a safe
distance by a local news helicopter and can be seen at
wsoctv.com, “Rescuers describe harrowing
ordeal at Linville Gorge.” Shortoff Mountain is near
the Linville Gorge and has a vertical face that is popu-lar
among rock climbers.
The rescue required the Black Hawk to hover
approximately 150 feet above the rock ledge and less
See Rescue on page 12
Page 11
The ambassador
learned about lo-cal
emergency
response ca-pabilities
from
N.C. Emergency
Management.
Photo provided by N.C. National Guard Public Affairs.
On The Scene March 2014
than 15 feet from the rock face.
Capt. Darrell Scoggins, commander for the rescue
mission, was flying the Black Hawk during Monday’s
rescue. He was interviewed at the NCNG flight facil-ity
once the mission was complete. “You’re proud this
guy is going to be reunited with his family,” Scoggins
told a local TV station. “We pulled him out of a sticky
situation and we’re just happy we could be there to
help.”
Capt. Chris Hendricks, with Gaston County
EMS, was the NCHART technician who went down
to retrieve the injured climber and get him into the
helicopter.
“He was pretty concentrated on the pain,”
Hendricks said of the climber who was able to talk to
rescuers. “You could see the look in his face — he was
hurting pretty good.” Hendricks worked with local
Burke County Paramedic Caleb Nicholson who had
already descended the face of the cliff to begin treat-ing
the patient on a small ledge to perform the rescue.
Gaston County EMS reported that the injured
climber was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center-
Main in Charlotte.
“The lasting partnership and year-round training
that the NCNG, N.C. Emergency Management and lo-cal
emergency specialists with NCHART conduct are
the reasons these missions are successful,” Scoggins
said.
The mission was the second successful NCHART
rescue this year. HART crews rescued hikers strand-ed
in Swain County in early January. The teams also
execute missions involving swift water/flood rescue,
lost people and urban/wilderness high angle rescues.
The NCHART program became the first of its kind
in the nation to implement a regimented training and
response program that combines highly-trained local
rescue technicians with state or military aviation as-sets.
This program is celebrating its 10th anniversary
in 2014.
To qualify for the HART team, first responders
had to pass a stringent physical fitness test and com-plete
an intensive 80-hour course that taught them
how to rescue injured people from the ground or wa-ter
and place them in the aircraft. Technicians train
monthly to maintain their certification.
Forty-two rescue technicians from a dozen differ-ent
agencies are qualified as NCHART members. x
Rescue from page 11
On March 12, State Highway Patrol troop-ers,
Alcohol Law Enforcement agents,
correctional officers and dozens of local,
state, and federal law enforcement offi-cers
converged on Fish Hatchery Road in
Burke County after learning that U.S. Forest
Service Officer Jason Crisp was shot when
he confronted a wanted murder suspect.
The suspect, Troy Whisnant, was on
the run after allegedly killing his father and
step-mother, Levi and Rhonda Whisnant.
Earlier in the day, law enforcement
officials determined that Whisnant was in-volved
in a hit and run accident at a private
residence and later stole a wrecker. The
suspect eventually abandoned the wrecker
and attempted to break into a nearby shed
and later fled into woods. As a result, Crisp
and his canine, Maros, were called to assist
in tracking and locating the suspect.
Crisp and his canine came upon the
suspect, and the suspect shot both of them.
Attempts to save Crisp and his dog failed.
Deputy sheriffs, troopers, ALE agents,
and correction officers eventually encoun-tered
Whisnant along a stretch of roadway,
where gunfire was exchanged.
A preliminary autopsy later determined
that Whisnant fatally shot himself in the
head. The sheriff said one of the officer’s
slugs did hit the suspect.
Department of Public Safety Secretary
Frank Perry offered condolences Crisp’s
family and friends. He also commended
the professionalism and bravery of the
many DPS employees who played a role in
the manhunt and takedown of a very dan-gerous
suspect.” x
Law enforcement agencies respond
to fallen U.S. Forest Service officer
The late
Officer.Jason
Crisp and.his
canine on
duty.
Page 12
The Employee Assistance Program service
level has been increased.
As a DPS employee, you and your im-mediate
family now receive up to three
free confidential counseling sessions. These
confidential counseling sessions will help
assess your needs and provide valuable as-sistance
at no cost to you and your immedi-ate
family.
You can contact a counselor at 888-
298-3907, 704-717-5295 or through www.
mygroup.com.
Employee assistance professionals are
available to respond to your calls and assess
your situation 24 hours a day to ensure that
you, or someone in your immediate house-hold
member are receiving the most appro-priate
care.
To Access Work-Life Services through
the above mentioned website you will need
this information:
Username: NCDPS
Password: guest
Confidential
NC EAP is confidential. Seeking as-sistance
from EAP will have no impact on
your work record and will not be noted in
your personnel file. Employee contact with
and participation in this program is volun-tary
and will be kept strictly confidential,
except when required by law. x
Employee Assistance Program service levels increase
On The Scene March 2014
Steve Yount, a grants
manager for the Homeland
Security section of Emer-gency
Management, has
written his second novel,
“Good Rockin’ Tonight,” a
story set in western North
Carolina in 1956 when the
first rock’n’rollers discov-ered
the glories of “cars,
bars and guitars.” Book
reviewers say that Yount’s writing is colorful and
entertaining and it includes historical facts as a
backdrop to good fiction. “Good Rockin’ Tonight”
is being sold on Amazon.com.
Grants manager’s
novel rocks
The State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), along with students across North
Carolina, joined millions of their peers nationwide to celebrate the 16th annual National Education Association’s (NEA)
Read Across America Day, on March 3. Troopers across the state visited local schools and encouraged students to
read, hoping to help reduce illiteracy. Read Across America Day celebrates Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the joys of reading.
Participating in a reading of Dr. Seuss books at Washington GT Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, were, from left,
1st Sgt. Jeff Gordon, Lt. Col. Billy Clayton, NCAE officials President Rodney Ellis and Vice President Mark Jewell, and
Trooper Michael Baker. Courtesy photo by NCAE.
Page 13
Department of Public Safety juvenile
court counselors were in the first
group to be trained as instructors
for the state’s new Youth Mental
Health First Aid program through the
Department of Health and Human
Services. The counselors return to
their communities and train other
adults who regularly deal with young
people to recognize the signs, symp-toms
and risk factors of mental
illnesses and addictions. The instruc-tors
have been equipped to teach
adults how to recognize symptoms,
intervene appropriately and help
adolescents who are struggling. DPS
Secretary Frank Perry was on hand
to congratulate the juvenile court
counselors who were trained. They
are, from left, Teshia Utley-McKoy
of Harnett County, Mary Jordan of
Wake County and Pamela Fowler
of Durham County. Courtesy photo by
DHHS.
First to be trained
Highway Patrol and NC Association of Educators rev up for ‘Read Across America Day’
Early in the evening of March 2, Wilbert Darcus III, a
processing assistant IV in Adult Facilities Administration,
was flagged down by a distressed motorist who had
parked his vehicle, with his family inside, on US Highway
70 east near Clayton.
Darcus soon saw a motorcycle on its side in the road
but he saw no rider. The motorist, who had seen the
biker go over a guard rail, directed Darcus to the location,
where Darcus discerned that the wreck had been fatal to
the biker.
A former Garner Police Department employee,
Darcus took actions that assisted first responder emer-gency
personnel. He advised a 911 dispatcher of the wreck
location and the victim’s condition, in additon to helping
ensure witnesses provided accounts to law enforcement
personnel investigating the wreck.
Employee helps first responders at tragic scene
On The Scene March 2014
P R O M O T I O N S
ADMINISTRATION
David Buchanan, electronics technician IV, Facility Management-Eastern Region
Gary Cox, business and technology application specialist,
IT Application Development Team 1
Elizabeth Dail, personnel analyst I, Human Resources Employment & Benefits
Brandon Housley, maintenance mechanic IV, Facility Management-
Piedmont Region
Tyler Oxendine, plumber II, Facility Management-Piedmont Region
Monica Shabo, program development coordinator, Office of Staff Development
& Training
ADULT CORRECTION & JUVENILE JUSTICE
ADULT FACILITIES
Michael Allman, food service manager I, Piedmont Correctional Institution
Dwayne Baker, superintendent II, N. Piedmont CI
Lillie Ballance, programs supervisor, Pasquotank CI
Jordan Barfield, sergeant, Pasquotank CI
Albert Boca, sergeant, Pasquotank CI
Monette Brady, sergeant, Southern CI
Tyrode Brounson, sergeant, Maury CI
Iris Brown, programs supervisor, New Hanover CI
Hope Bryant, programs director I, Pamlico CI
Patrick Buchan, food service manager I, Warren CI
Booker Carson, diagnostic center director, Foothills CI
Melanie Cox, programs supervisor, Tabor CI
Adarryl Cradle, lead correctional officer, Hyde CI
Ventura DeVane, programs supervisor, Raleigh Correctional Center for Women
Tashecia Dumas, sergeant, Morrison CI
Stephen Farrow, sergeant, Greene CI
Tammy Fennell, lieutenant, Bertie CI
Priscilla Gardner, sergeant, Pasquotank CI
Matthew Hall, transfer coordinator III, Administration
Michael Hall, sergeant, Greene CI
Karen Henderson, captain, Scotland CI
Fletcher Hicks, lieutenant, Piedmont CI
James Howdeshell, sergeant, N. Piedmont CCW
Allen Huffman, HVAC supervisor I, Alexander CI
Joshua Jackson, sergeant, Maury CI
Diane Jones, sergeant, Pamlico CI
Frances Joyner, food service manager I, Caswell CC
Gary Keily, sergeant, Central Prison
Cindy McLean, nurse director, Central Prison Health Complex
Robert Mitchell, administrator I, Lanesboro CI
Jesse Newsome, lead correctional officer, Albemarle CI
Jared O’Neal, maintenance mechanic IV, Brown Creek CI
Donnie Raynor, inmate disciplinary hearing officer, Administration
Miriam Schaul, staff psychologist, NC CI for Women
Lisa Shull, sergeant, Polk CI
Alicia Thomas, psychological services coordinator, Neuse CI
Alan Walker, sergeant, Catawba Correctional Center
Alfred Williams, inmate disciplinary hearing officer, Prison Administration
Lavar Williams, food service manager II, Franklin CC
COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
John Bivins, chief probation/parole officer, District 22
Sandy Boyette, chief probation/parole officer, District 11
Bryan Branch, assistant district manager I, District 27
Carleen Edwards, chief probation/parole officer, District 26B
Pamela Gardner, substance abuse program consultant,
Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center
Brian Gates, division administrator, Division 3 Administration
Lisa McManus, personnel technican I, Personnel
Ashton Miller, probation/parole officer, District 25
Darlene Mitchiner, chief probation/parole officer, District 29
Chad Owens, assistant chief of special operations, Administration
Jerry Presnell, chief probation/parole officer, District 30
Yvonne Scott, personnel assistant IV, Division 3 Administration
Crystal Small, juvenile court counselor, Juvenile Justice District 14
Warren Turner, chief probation/parole officer, District 27
Catherine Wade, district manager III, District 7
Angela Williams, assistant district manager I, District 21
CORRECTION ENTERPRISES
Daniel Harrell, supervisor II, Caledonia CI
Brandon Mabrey, supervisor II, Caledonia CI
JUVENILE FACILITIES
Jameka Patrick, facility director, Dobbs YDC
REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS & SUPPORT SERVICES
Duane Cogdell, transitional services coordinator, Central Office
Cynthia Trickel, director of juvenile programs & student support services, Central Office
In February 2014 unless indicated otherwise.
Page 14
See Promotions on page 15
On The Scene March 2014
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Jeffrey Childs, statewide interoperability coordinator, Operations
Mary Donny, branch manager, Human Services
Zakare Whicker, radiological emergency preparedness planner, Operations
R E T I R E M E N T S In February 2014 unless indicated otherwise.
ADMINISTRATION
Employee’s name, job, organizational unit, length of service
Steven Rector, mason supervisor, Facility Management – Western Region, 20y
David Thompson, auditor, Internal Audit, 11y3m
ADULT CORRECTION & JUVENILE JUSTICE
ADULT FACILITIES
Larry Axsom, correctional officer, Piedmont Correctional Institution, 10y7m
Robert Benjamin, training specialist II, Pamlico CI, 16y6m
Linda Boykin, processing assistant IV, Johnston CI, 19y1m
George Briggs, correctional officer, Maury CI, 8y6m
Patrick Brown, correctional officer, Hoke CI, 20y3m
Paul Campbell, correctional officer, Catawba Correctional Center, 19y4m
Doris Chance, case manager, Hoke CI, 19y2m
Luis Chevere, correctional officer, Hoke CI, 16y3m
Cheryl Cooper, correctional officer, Eastern CI, 18y6m
Edna Flowers, correctional officer, Sanford CC, 11y4m
Jane Fussell, nurse consultant, Administration - Health Services, 24y7m
Gary Garmon, correctional officer, Foothills CI, 10y5m
Mary Gilmore, sergeant, Polk CI, 14y6m
Albert Goff, correctional officer, Columbus CC, 11y1m
Charles Hansen, professional nurse, Albemarle CI, 9y2m
Danny Hart, lieutenant, Polk CI, 24y8m
John Heberlein, correctional officer, Piedmont CI, 31y2m
Chester Hunter, sergeant, Nash CI, 27y
Ray Jackson, correctional officer, Central Prison, 26y
Larry Kearney, correctional officer, Nash CI, 8y3m
Maria Kristula, correctional officer, Raleigh CC for Women, 6y2m
Winfred McIver, correctional officer, Sanford CC, 29y3m
Edwin Mills, sergeant, Piedmont CI, 28y8m
Brenda North, office assistant IV, New Hanover CI, 18y8m
Aro Parker, correctional officer, Odom CI, 29y9m
Jason Parnell, correctional officer, Wilkes CC, 22y
Ronnie Ritchie, sergeant, Lincoln CC, 21y4m
Douglas Schmarkey, sergeant, Catawba CC, 32y
Sherwood Smith, licensed practical nurse, Central Prison Health Complex, 26y2m
David Stephenson, correctional officer, Davidson CC, 9y3m
Sheila Taylor, correctional officer, Lanesboro CI, 8y
William Twitty, correctional officer, Warren CI, 16y10m
Jimmy White, correctional officer, Piedmont CI, 24y10m
Larry Williams, correctional officer, Hoke CI, 29y8m
Janice Wombough, professional nurse, Administration - Health Services, 22y2m
COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
Vicki Bartholomew, juvenile court counselor supervisor, West Region, District 25, 19y
Nancy Blue, office assistant III, District 18A, 22y8m
Cornell Hopkins, probation/parole officer, District 12, 19y4m
Connie Neelands, office assistant IV, District 27, 10y1m
LAW ENFORCEMENT
STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
Phillip Glover, master trooper, Troop H, District 4, 27y10m
Leah McCall, master trooper, Troop G, District 6, 28y1m
Teia Poulin, lieutenant, Beacon Position Manager, 23y7m
Ronald Raybon, telecommunications shift supervisor, Troop H,
Telecommunications, 29y3m
Timothy Sinclair, sergeant, Troop B, District 4, 28y6m
Georgia Warren, sergeant, Respiratory Protection, 22y2m
Eugene Wooten, master trooper, Troop E, District 6, 16y5m
NATIONAL GUARD
Jeffrey Young, facility maintenance supervisor III, Facility Management, 34y6m
ADULT CORRECTION & JUVENILE JUSTICE
ADULT FACILITIES
June Grant, correctional officer, Eastern CI, 29y6m
P A S S I N G
Promotions continued from page 14
Page 15